AbeBooks Reviews 

1,095
TrustScore 2 out of 5

2.0

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 148 reviews, most reviewers were unhappy with their experience overall. Customers frequently experienced severe delivery delays, with many orders taking several weeks to turn up or failing to arrive completely. Consumers also struggled to obtain financial compensation, because automated responses and disputed tracking numbers severely complicated the refund process. Buyers additionally received damaged books, moldy pages, or incorrect editions that did not match the original online descriptions. However, some customers also noted that certain shipments arrived promptly and items matched purchase expectations remarkably well. A small group of reviewers additionally mentioned receiving good value and books in excellent condition during their online transactions.

What people talk about most

Product

People report ambiguous experiences with product quality, noting both satisfaction and severe issues. Some... See more

Order

Reviewers mention ambiguous feedback about order experiences, highlighting a mix of timely deliveries and... See more

Delivery service

Clients share negative opinions on delivery_service, expressing frustration over delayed shipments and items... See more

Refund

Customers consistently note negative experiences with refund processes, highlighting long delays and... See more

Website

Consumers find website experiences to be ambiguous, describing the platform as a hit-and-miss portal relying... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

I was about to buy 3 books from this online store but emptied my basket when they insisted on having my phone number in order to make an account. I don't give my phone number to any organisation or ch... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Very disappointed. Found a sought for item, listed at a reasonable price with stated postage. Placed order and paid the necessary price. Later received an email demanding extra postage as the item was... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

It is always hit or miss at AbeBooks. Most of the dealers are very bad at describing their books. There are far too many "dealers" like ThriftBooks and HalfPrice books that do not have the book they a... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

I only ordered from them twice, but had issues both times, as the books never seem to arrive on time or arrive at all. I'm giving them 2 stars because I got my money back both times.


Company details

  1. Book Store
  2. Rare Book Store
  3. Used Book Store

Information provided by various external sources

Your source for used, new, rare and out-of-print books. Find classic collectibles, rare signed editions, used textbooks, and inexpensive bestsellers in our 80 million books.


Contact info

2.0

Poor

TrustScore 2 out of 5

1K reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
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1-star

No history of asking for reviews

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2.0

All reviews

(1,095)

145 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Hollow refund promise

We had problems with the delivery of a book we had ordered using the AbeBooks platform. What had happened was that the book had been delivered to an address about 3 miles away. However, because the tracking number showed that the book had been delivered, it was impossible to start a refund claim on the AbeBooks website. (We had already tried obtaining a refund from the seller, but had got absolutely nowhere.)
it proved impossible to escalate the issue since there does not appear to be any way of contacting AbeBooks, there being neither an e-mail address nor a 'phone no. is anywhere to be found on their website.

16 May 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Falsely represented condition of product

Book was sold as "good, clean condition, book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned". Was covered in brown dirt and mould, and half the pages had been written in with highlighter. I'm not fussy but the condition was less than poor, it was unacceptable. So "good condition" was completely false.

16 May 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Very disappointing

Very disappointing. I ordered a book from the USA and so spent a lot on shipping. The book arrived in a horrendous condition as the seller shipped it in nothing more than a plastic bag. I have tried to raise this with Abe Books - zero response. Very poor customer service.

5 May 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Few issues going back over 25 years

Unless I've been extraordinarily lucky, I simply cannot fathom the number of less than satisfactory reviews submitted here about AbeBooks UK. Going back to the 1990s, I believe, I had very few issues with any of the books (2-3 per year) they've been able to source for me, at a competitive price.

22 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Incorrect book edition sent - but excellent customer service

I have used Abe Books before and had a very good experience. On this occasion when I used them the book I ordered via Abe came from World Of Books. It was advertised as a paperback (soft binding), but a weighty hard back copy was sent. This was annoying but Abe Books did provide excellent customer service in sorting out refund within 24 hours. I would definitely use Abe Books again, but would be more vigilant of who the actual seller of the book was. The book was delivered within 48 hours to be fair - but it was not what was ordered so I've knocked a star off

20 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Paid for book

Paid for book, never received contacted Abe & seller direct, no customer service response, diabolical service, they take your money and run. Don’t use,

2 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

LOUSY SERVICE BOOK CREASED!

Recieved book creased it was advertised as new. Also the author name was different. To return the book I have to pay postage ? but it is Abe books fault. Will never buy from.them again. Scammers they know you will not pay tracked postage. You have ben warned STAY CLEAR!!!

20 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Cracked spine and food stains…

The book I ordered had a cracked spine and food stains along the edges of the pages on the opposite side, despite being advertised as "very good" condition.
I won't be using AbeBooks again.

5 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Avoid

I order a book series and received only one book. It was clearly advertised as a series. Contacted Abe books and received no response. Avoid!!

10 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No customer service. DO NOT USE!

Bookseller: Bahamut Media
Sales Order No.: 764528261
Terrible! Received a book which the seller claimed was (I quote) "Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover". It arrived dirty, water damaged, with transfer print as it had been stuck to another book at dome point. I complained and offered photos but the seller expects me to pay for the tracked return. This is not acceptable. I am happy to return it but not at my expense. I have tried to contact abe books but there is no way to correspond with them - the contact us option is a dead link. Absolutely appalling. Do not buy from the scamming website.

16 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

I wish I had read their reviews before…

I wish I had read their reviews before I ordered two books, one from Italy and one from Germany which never arrived. The one from Italy cost me £17.33 in postage and it was not even a book. Total rip off.
ABE books offered me a refund for £5.88 which was the cost of what turned out to be a slim sort of catalogue of an exhibition. It was "used" , described as "good", which it wasn't really and it only contained 10 photos out of the 33 paintings exhibited. I have now received another mail telling me this refund has been cancelled, The fact is that buying from companies like Abe books is like entering a lottery. Sad and frustrating to say the least and probably the main reason people buy from Amazon, which at least is almost always efficient and reliable.

I have just received an email from Abe books offering me a full refund. If this is true then hats off to them, but the problem is they cannot control all sellers they trade with and who -from what I read- often misrepresent the items they are selling.

16 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

Ordered 2 books with a promised delivery date of 9.4.26 using the priority shipping option. One arrived on 11.4.26 and the other 14.4.26. To add insult to injury I paid more than the Oxfam Books price on the sticker on of them too. I know where I'll go for my books next time (and it won't be Abe Books).

14 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Not an honourable company -avoid

Book was described as very good condition but was stained , yellowing pages and an older edition than advertised. I returned the book in line with the return policy and abe would only refund me the value of the book, not the return postage. Which cost more than the book itself. No idea how this company are still in business with so many great alternative sellers out there! Wish I'd come here first!

5 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Terrible customer service

Terrible customer service. They title their agents ‘heroes’. That is a joke. They are useless. I have been trying to follow up a refund they issued 10 days ago. Every time I contact them I get the same message back from a different ‘hero’ which repeats that the refund has been issued. No attempt to read and correlate previous correspondence. Some of them don’t understand the issue at all and tell me the item was delivered. It is truly pathetic. I still have no refund.

28 March 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

NEW book received in tatty condition

I ordered 'BRM Racing for Britain' via Abe books. There was some conflicting information on the order confirmation which I questioned with Abe. The issue raised was settled very quickly, courteously and effectively by the supplier (Widney Manor Books in Solihull, UK). The book arrived promptly and was well packed.
I was very disappointed when I opened the packaging. The book was, as stated, new but it had been a bit beaten about. The original protective cellophane covering was partly missing and/or torn and there was a scratch through the cellophane into the dust cover. One corner had been damaged with the hard cover bent.
This was an expensive, limited edition book which I expected to be in pristine condition but which looks as if it has not been stored with due care. It is a present for a dear friend on a special birthday in two days time. I have neither the time nor inclination to press for a refund and try to find a copy in better condition.

26 March 2026
Unprompted review

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